Foreign Language Teaching and Learning

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Faculty Publications: Department of Teaching,
Learning and Teacher Education
Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher
Education
2015
Foreign Language Teaching and Learning
Aleidine Kramer Moeller
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
, [e-mail]
Theresa Catalano
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
, [e-mail]
Follow this and additional works at:
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/teachlearnfacpub
Part of the
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons
,
Educational Methods
Commons
,
International and Comparative Education Commons
, and the
Teacher Education and
Professional Development Commons
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education at
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Teacher Education by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Moeller, Aleidine Kramer and Catalano, Theresa, "Foreign Language Teaching and Learning" (2015).
Faculty Publications: Department
of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education
. 196.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/teachlearnfacpub/196

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Foreign language learning and teaching refer to the teach-
ing or learning of a nonnative language outside of the envi-
ronment where it is commonly spoken. A distinction is of-
ten made between ‘foreign’ and ‘second’ language learning. 
A second language implies that the learner resides in an envi-
ronment where the acquired language is spoken. In the area 
of research, the term second language acquisition (SLA) is a 
general term that embraces foreign language learning and in-
vestigates the human capacity to learn languages other than 
the first language once it has been acquired. Scholarly inquiry 
into the acquisition of a nonnative language includes the disci-
plines of psychology, linguistics, language pedagogy, educa-
tion, neurobiology, sociology, and anthropology. Inquiries of 
learning and teaching innovations have provided new insights 
into successful language learning strategies and environments 
designed to increase language achievement and proficiency.